Suggestion For a Buccaneer Flightnight when aircraft and Carrier available
In 1972, the Buccaneers aboard Ark Royal took part in a long-range strike mission over British Honduras in Central America shortly before its independence as a constitutional monarchy named Her Majesty's Government of Belize to deter a possible invasion by Guatemala, which had long-standing territorial claims.
In January 1972, two
Royal Navy Buccaneer S.2s from HMS Ark Royal made a record-breaking 2600-mile round trip to British Honduras to deter a potential invasion from Guatemala.
The flight plan involved taking off from HMS Ark Royal, a high-level route avoiding Cuba across the Bahamas and Yucatan Channel, refueling from two other squadron aircraft using the buddy-buddy system, and then overflying Belize City and the airfield before returning. This mission was notable for being entirely unsupported by outside assets and lasted 5 hours and 50 minutes.
Detailed flight plan
· Takeoff: Two Buccaneer S.2s launched from HMS Ark Royal.
· Refueling: Within 40 minutes, the two Buccaneers were refueled mid-air by two other squadron aircraft using a buddy-buddy system.
· Route: The Buccaneers flew a high-level route over the Bahamas and Florida Keys, through the Yucatan Channel, and avoiding Cuban airspace to reach British Honduras.
· Flyover: The aircraft overflew Belize City at 1,000 feet and the airfield at 400 feet as a show of force.
· Return: The planes returned on a similar track, were intercepted over the Keys by US Air National Guard F-102s, and then returned to HMS Ark Royal.
· Mission: The flight was part of a deterrent mission in response to threats from neighboring Guatemala.
· Duration: The entire mission was 2600 miles and lasted for 5 hours and 50 minutes.
In 1972, Ark Royal and 809 RNAS were despatched "with haste" from the North Atlantic to 'show presence' over British Honduras, now Belize, in the face of neighbouring Guatemalan threats to invade Belize. Steaming hard at 27 knots, and when eventually off Bermuda, two Buccaneers were launched along with two more buddy tanker versions to make one of the longest journeys of its type.[11] In a six-hour round trip the two Buccaneers showed presence over Belize and made the Guatemalan government, with its P-51D Mustangs and limited ground forces, hesitate long enough for other events to intervene.
Comments
Will our Buccaneer be able to refuel others?
Probably not
In that case KC-130 would be needed, depends on Flight Leaders choice of Flight Plan though!
Oly2b make a plan mate! I'm on the Tanker aircraft, I seem to remember a Kc-130 team was at MZBZ Philip S W Goldson Airport at the time! (cough) your research is outstanding sir, make this epic mate!
Some more details, maps of the flight and maps of the countries involved.
Map of Buccaneers flight
Trust me m8, looking at British territorial maps of that time period, airfields and planning, 2 hour slot though, round trip. Stand by though ;}